Tony Womack occupies Kenny Lofton’s old locker – two down from Derek Jeter – and wears No. 12, the same one Lofton did last season. Womack is also the most unhappy man in the Yankees clubhouse, same as Lofton was last summer.

Womack isn’t pleased about playing left field, but this week he hasn’t played much of anything with Ruben Sierra starting in left last night for a second straight game.

“I don’t want to get into that,” Womack snapped yesterday when asked if he has spoken to Joe Torre about playing time, quickly ending the interview.

Conversely, Sierra was quite happy to be back in left.

“The more I play, the better I’ll be,” said Sierra, who batted seventh in the lineup. “The more I play the better my timing gets and the better my numbers will be.”

Torre said he has liked what he has seen from Sierra this week against Tampa Bay. He was 1-for-3 with a run and intentional walk Wednesday and had nine hits in 21 at-bats.

“Ruben is swinging the bat pretty well right now,” Torre said. “He’s a guy, that because of (Hideki) Matsui not being able to play, is going to get an opportunity, especially against left-handers. Tony will still be our guy for the most part against right-handers, but Ruben, I like the way he scares people in certain situations.”

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Matsui was the DH last night and his return to defense remains in question. He has had trouble pushing off his injured right ankle and foot, according to Torre.

“It’s getting better little by little,” Matsui said. “Defense is still not likely.”

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Tino Martinez saw a doctor about his balky right foot and heel yesterday and was told if the pain becomes unbearable, he could receive a cortisone shot. Before it gets to that, he’ll try using inserts in his shoe to relieve the injury . . . Kevin Brown (back spasms) has not thrown yet and Torre said, “He has no plans to throw yet. We’ll wait until he’s comfortable with doing it.”